Internships
Internships are the core of the Berkeley Washington Program and offer an invaluable professional development experience. UCDC staff, both in Berkeley and at the UC Washington Center, work with students to help identify and obtain internship placements that fit their interests and professional goals. See past examples of where Cal students have interned here. Check out the UCDC Intern Guide. It’s packed with handy tips about life in the nation’s capital! Here’s a list of past UCDC internship partners.
FAQ
What are the expectations?
Students typically intern three to four days a week (24-32 hours), while also taking a research seminar and an elective at the UC Washington Center. Other expectations and duties vary from internship to internship.
Do I earn academic credit?
Yes! Students working a minimum of 24 a week at their internship earn 6.5 P/NP units. (Due to visa rules, international students should check with Berkeley International Office about how many hours they can work and if there is paperwork to complete before starting an internship.)
Are internships paid?
Some internships offer a stipend or hourly wage, though many internships are unpaid. Any financial agreements are the responsibility of the student to negotiate with the internship supervisor. Students with unpaid internships are eligible for a $1,000 grant from the Washington Center.
How does the internship search work?
Students are encouraged to begin researching internships prior to applying to the UCDC program in order to better decide whether a semester in D.C. is right for them. Once students are accepted into the program, staff at the UC Washington Center in D.C. and on campus work closely with participating students to help them find and apply for internships. Though the internship search is a guided and supported process, it is still the student’s responsibility to apply for and secure an internship. Students are expected to be organized, proactive, and communicative during the internship search. Help will always be given to those who ask! 🙂
What kinds of internships are out there?
Washington D.C. is a vibrant city filled with exciting internship opportunities in a variety of fields: non-profit NGOs, think tanks, museums, health institutes, legal offices, and of course, government agencies, congressional offices and committees. We encourage students from all majors to explore what D.C. has to offer by doing research, checking out a range of websites of organizations and offices to read about possible internships, eligibility, and deadlines.
Interested in internships with the federal government? Use the Federal Internship Finder tool.
Interested in internships on Capitol Hill? Sign up for the House Internship Bulletin and frequently check the Senate Internship Opportunities Bulletin.
| UCDC Program Links | Internship Search Engines |
| UC Washington Center | Idealist.org |
| UC San Diego | USAjobs.gov |
| UC Davis | Global Jobs |
| UC Riverside | Handshake |
| UC Los Angeles | Internmatch.com |
| UC Merced | DCjobs.com |
| UC Santa Barbara | Wetfeet.com |
| UC Santa Cruz | HillZoo.com |
| UC Irvine | Indeed.com |
Internships with early deadlines
Certain agencies and organizations such as the Department of State require more time to process applications due to security clearances and backgrounds checks, and so application deadlines are much earlier. If you are considering UCDC, please plan accordingly and do the appropriate research to make sure you don’t miss the deadline for internships you are interested in.
A few internship programs w/ early deadlines (not exhaustive):
U.S. Department of State – Jan-Feb (Fall), May-June (Spring)
Berkeley’s Career Engagement office has a US Department of State Diplomat in Residence who can answer questions about internships and career paths at the DoS.
The White House – April-May (Fall), July-August (Spring)
The Supreme Court – June 15 (Fall), October 15 (Spring)